Tuesday, 7 October 2014

Taxpayers pay tax

The Observer reports on a deal that was allegedly struck between Imperial Tobacco and the government of Laos in 2001 that has left tobacco taxes lower than they might otherwise have been...

UK cigarette firm praised over Laos tobacco tax deal

A British tobacco giant has been praised for saving taxpayers in Laos, one of Asia's poorest countries, tens of millions of pounds, having struck a special tax deal with its government lasting a quarter of a century.

You might have guessed that I made a few amendments to the text. The original story read as follows...

UK cigarette firm criticised over Laos tobacco tax deal

A British tobacco giant has been accused of depriving taxpayers in Laos, one of Asia's poorest countries, of tens of millions of pounds, having struck a special tax deal with its government lasting a quarter of a century.

Memo to The Observer: taxpayers are people who pay tax, not the governments that receive the revenue.

About Me

Writer and researcher at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Blogging in a personal capacity.
Author of Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism (2015), The Art of Suppression (2011), The Spirit Level Delusion (2010) and Velvet Glove, Iron Fist (2009).

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."